Open House Festival

Humanise Spotters Guide: King's Cross

architectural practice

Making House, 55 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EE

what3words: forced.shady.each

Ever wondered just what makes a building interesting, characterful and joyful? It’s not just a vague sensation or an indescribable feeling. There are specific things you can look for. Explore the buildings around you using the Humanise Spotter’s Guide, a mobile-friendly guide which invites you to look more closely at the buildings around us, and think about how they’re shaping how we all feel.

Getting there

Tube

King's Cross St. Pancras

Train

King's Cross

Access

What you can expect

The Humanise team will welcome you at Making House and share information about the Humanise campaign before you begin your self-guided walk.

Create a free visitor account to book festival tickets

Drop in activities

Sat 12 Sep

09:00–16:00

Drop in: Self-guided tour

Start at Making House to collect your free King’s Cross map, then use the Spotter’s Guide on your mobile as you explore.

About

Humanise

Humanise is a global movement calling for more joyful, engaging and human buildings and cities. Sparked by Thomas Heatherwick’s book Humanise: a maker’s guide to building our world, the campaign shines a light on how dull, soulless buildings are bad for our brains, our economy, and the planet – and how what surrounds us can shape us, connect us, and bring us joy. Because human beings need human buildings.

How to get started

Designed to be downloaded and used on any mobile phone, the Spotter’s Guide helps you identify the features on the outsides of buildings which are making all the difference. Use it on your own on your daily walk; take it with you when you’re exploring a new city; or use it to kickstart a fun activity with the family.

Special King's Cross walking tour

Combine the Guide with this special King's Cross walking tour.

Begin at Heatherwick Studio’s Making House, and collect your free King's Cross walking tour map from the Humanise team. You can then set off on a self-guided walk around King’s Cross. Download the Spotter’s Guide on your mobile phone and use it as you walk round to prompt conversation and ask questions about each of the buildings you see.

The map takes you on a journey around 11 buildings, each offering a different perspective on how a building can be interesting, joyful and human. You won’t need to go inside any of the buildings - explore the neighbourhood at your own pace and see what you discover.

Online presence

www.humanise.org/a-spotters-guide

Nearby

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